Pedal attachment.



No. 767,247. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. H. G ROSS PEDAL ATTACHMENT.

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PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY O. ROSS, OF PIRU, CALIFORNIA.

PEDAL ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,247, dated August9, 1904. Application filed May 3, 1904. Serial No. 206,240. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY 0. Ross, a citizen of the United States,residing at Piru, in the county of Ventura and State of California, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Pedal Attachments, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a pedal attachment for pianos, the objectbeing to provide a simple and sure means for closing the slots in thefront boards of upright pianos and similar musical instruments toprevent mice and other vermin from gaining access thereto.

To this end I suspend from each pedal a removable hinged plate whichcloses that part of the slot below the pedal and as the pedal isoperated rises and falls with it, being guided in its movement bypassing through a slot in an angular extension from the pedal-platebeneath the piano.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lowerpart of an upright piano with my invention applied to the pedals. Fig. 2is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of the closure-plate detached.

Similar letters refer to the same parts on the various figures.

A indicates the front under board of an upright-piano case, to which isfastened at the bottom the usual pedal-plate B, slotted, as is also theboard A at b, for the play of the pedals G.

As upright pianos are ordinarily constructed the slots 6 are left open,and it is through these slots that mice and other vermin enter pianosand do great damage thereto. To correct this defect, I suspend from eachpedal a plate D, which entirely closes the slot below the pedal andforms an effectual barrier against destructive animals and insectsshould they attempt to gain access to the interior of the instrument.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will there be seen that the closure-plateD is placed immediately behind the pedal-plate B, its lower endextending through a slot in a foot or angular extension piece E of thepedal-plate B. The -upper end of each closure-plate D carries asupporting spring-arm d at each side, which arms detachably fit into andhave hearings in depressions C on opposite sides of the pedal. It is notnecessary that the closure-plates be fitted to guides in the sides ofthe pedal-plate B or front board A, the extension of the said platesthrough the foot-piece E being sufiicient for the purpose.

When a pedal O is depressed, the attached plate D is carried down withit, passing through the slot in the angular extension-piece E below thebottom of the piano, which being raised on casters prevents the plate Dfrom reaching the floor. hen pressure is removed from the pedal, itrises as usual, the plate D following. It will thus be seen that theopenings below the pedals are at all times closed. There being noopenings above the pedals except when they are temporarily depressed,guards or protecting means at these points are unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. An attachmentfor pianos comprising pedals extending through suitable slots in thefront board, a closure-plate for each slot, arms on the plates forsuspending them from the pedals, and a fixed plate having an extensionbeneath the piano with a guide-slot therein.

2. An attachment for pianos comprising pedals extending through suitableslots in the front board, a closureplate for each slot, spring-arms onthe plates for detachably suspending them from depressions formed in thepedals, and a pedal-plate attached to said front board and having aperforated extension through which the closure-plates pass and by whichthey are guided.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY C. ROSS.

